Library Produces 4,193 Authors... Incheon Seo-gu Library Wins Presidential Citation

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism selects 58 outstanding libraries nationwide; awards presented at the National Library Convention in Gwangju
Gochang High School also receives the Presidential Citation for transforming its school library into a multifaceted learning space
Jeonju Municipal Library Kkotshim and five others receive the Prime Minister's Citation for locally tailored reading services

Citizens who once read books at the library have become authors, writing books of their own. Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education Seo-gu Library has produced 4,193 citizen authors over three years through its citizen author development program. Gochang High School in Jeonbuk transformed its school library into a multifaceted learning space for reading, classes, and community activities. The two institutions received this year's Presidential Citation for Outstanding Libraries.

Citizens participating in the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education Seo-gu Library’s “Citizen Author School” program are taking part in reading and writing activities together. The library has trained 4,193 citizen writers over the past three years through creative programs such as Citizen Author School and “The Making of a Picture Book Author.” Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on October 28 that it had awarded 58 outstanding libraries for their contributions to the development of library operations and services at the opening ceremony of the 63rd National Library Convention and Exhibition, held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju.

This year's awards covered 22,203 public, small, school, specialized, military, and correctional facility libraries nationwide. After receiving recommendations from local governments, education offices, and relevant ministries, the ministry selected two recipients of the Presidential Citation, six of the Prime Minister's Citation, 33 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Citation, and 17 of the Minister of Education's Citation, following reviews by expert and public-service award committees.

Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education Seo-gu Library, which received the Presidential Citation, was recognized for spreading a citizen-participation reading culture through its "Read, Walk, Write" campaign, which combines reading, walking, and writing.

It has trained 4,193 citizen authors over the past three years by running creative programs such as the "Library Citizen Author School" and "The Birth of Picture Book Authors." The library is an example of how libraries can expand their role beyond simply lending books and providing a place to read, becoming spaces where citizens produce knowledge and stories themselves.

The library was also highly praised for working with local government to open and operate Gajaeul Kkum Children's Library and for building a foundation for local reading culture in partnership with 598 public, private, and academic institutions.

The Presidential Citation in the school library category went to Gochang High School in Jeonbuk. Through a project to innovate school library spaces for the future, the school established an independent library and a book cafe called "Seongsan Maru."

It transformed a space previously focused on browsing materials into a multifaceted learning space for classes, reading, and student activities, and operated interdisciplinary reading programs in collaboration with the local community. The school was recognized for improving rural students' access to education and culture and expanding the educational role of school libraries.

Six libraries received the Prime Minister's Citation: four public libraries, one school library, and one military library.

Jeonju Municipal Library Kkotshim drew attention for creating Jeonbuk's first open-stack library without reading rooms and operating "Ujuro 1216," a dedicated space for teenagers aged 12 to 16. The space allows teenagers to take part not only in reading but also in creative work, media activities, and arts experiences. A total of 6,066 people from 427 institutions nationwide visited to learn about its operating model.

Daegu Metropolitan Bukbu Library was recognized for expanding services connected to local education, including establishing "Book Agit," a space exclusively for middle school students, and supporting 126 school libraries.

Uiwang City Central Library strengthened the institutional foundation for local library policy by developing a long-term development plan for libraries and ordinances to promote reading culture. Seoul Nonhyeon Library partnered with 58 external organizations to provide library services to underserved groups in their communities and reading programs tailored to different stages of life.

In the school library category, Seoul Sungok Elementary School received the Prime Minister's Citation for its curriculum-linked reading education and programs fostering collaboration among schools, families, and the local community. In the military library category, Korea Army Training and Administration School was recognized for operating programs tailored to service members, including humanities lectures, book concerts, and reading coaching.

Thirty-three libraries, including Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Jongno Library, Geomdan Library, Bucheon Suju Municipal Library, Masan Jihyeui Bada Library, and Jeju Tamna Library, received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Citation.

Among them, Incheon Geomdan Library was praised for developing artificial intelligence (AI) services under the leadership of its librarians and incorporating residents' opinions into its operating policies. Gyeongnam's Masan Jihyeui Bada Library was recognized for transforming a closed school into a multifaceted reading and cultural space, while Daegu Daehyeon Library was cited for broadening the scope of reading culture through programs specializing in webtoons.

In the small library category, four libraries, including Daegu Dalseo Multicultural Family Small Library and Gyeonggi's Tanhyeon Small Library, received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Citation. In the specialized library category, the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service's specialized library for arts and culture education and the Constitutional Court Library were among the recipients. Four military libraries and the Seoul Detention Center Library were also recognized.

Seventeen school libraries, including Seoul Sunggok Elementary School, Busan Girls' Middle School, and Kyungpook National University College of Education Affiliated Middle School, received the Minister of Education's Citation.

"We highly commend the recipients' efforts, which have contributed to the development of library services and the enrichment of culture in their communities," said Jeong Hyang-mi, head of the Cultural Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "We will support the sharing and wider adoption of outstanding practices so that everyone can enjoy high-quality library services, regardless of where they live or their generation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.